Timing device



Nov. 13, 1962 F. D HYDE 3,063,297

TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 13, 1962 F. D. HYDE 3,063,297

TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AGENT Patented Nov. 13., 1962 3,tl63,297 TIMING DEVICE Floyd 1). Hyde, 702 /2 S. Palm, Alhambra, Caiif. Filed Sept. 3, 195?, Ser. No. 837,944 Claims. or. 74-54;;

This invention relates to a timing device and more particularly to a timing device having a hydraulic escapement apparatus which is coupled with a novel trip mechanism provided with means to control the operation of equipment to be timed.

Timing devices are utilized for a great variety of purposes; as for example household appliances, water dispensing valves and other equipment.

Generally the escapement mechanisms employed in timing devices include conventional spur gear trains which involve a large number of intricate parts.

Additionally, such conventional timing devices actuate trip mechanisms which are generally capable of accommodating very lightly loaded pilot mechanisms. Usually the trip mechanisms of conventional timing devices employ cams or other elements having eccentric bearing features which impose a load laterally of the axis of the escapement operated shaft which actuates the trip mechanism. Consequently, such conventional trip mechanisms cannot be loaded by pilot valves having a substantial spring force nor can such trip mechanisms be loaded by electrical switches requiring a substantial force to actuate them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a timing device wherein a very simple and economical hydraulic escapement device is utilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device having a hydraulic escapement mechanism which is very simple and economical to produce and maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device having a hydraulic escapement mechanism; the cycle rate of which is readily and easily adjustable for calibration purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device wherein an escapement mechanism operates a trip mechanism which is capable of accommodating substantial actuating loads due to the fact that such actuating loads assist in final actuation of the tripping mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device wherein an escapement mechanism which when manually set, cocks the trip mechanism thereof and thereby overcomes the necessity of high actuating forces in the trip mechanism when it is brought to tripping position by the escapement device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device having a trip mechanism therein which may be operated under substantial load and which quickly snaps into trip position when the escapement device reaches a predetermined degree of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device wherein an escapement mechanism is provided with a trip mechanism; said trip mechanism provided with two pairs of cam elements, cam elements of each pair having a differential radius and each pair having their cam portions spaced apart whereby one element of each pair of cam elements may bypass one cam element of the other pair when rotated relative to each other throughout a region of substantially 360 degrees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device wherein an escapement mechanism operates a trip mechanism; said trip mechanism having earn fingers disposed and projecting through arcuate slots in a stationary plate; said fingers cooperating with inclined cam portions of a shaft operated cam plate whereby the fingers are stopped at one end of each of the slots in the first mentioned plate until the inclined portions of the fingers engage inclined portions of the cam plate whereupon loading of the fingers causes them to slide on the inclines of the cam plate and move to the opposite ends of the slots causing the trip mechanism to attain substantial amplitude of operation combined with a snap action movement.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the timing device of the present invention showing portions thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the timing device taken from the line 2.2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the timing device trip mechanism taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken from the line 55 of FIG. 1.

The escapement mechanism of the invention is provided with a shallow cup shaped frame 10 having bolts 12 extending theret-hrough. These bolts 12 also extend through a flat frame member 14. Spacers 16 surround the bolts 12 and are abutted between the shallow cup shaped frame member /10 and the flat frame member 14. Thus, the bolts 12 and spacers 16 hold the frame members 10 and 14 in spaced parallel juxtaposition. Extending centrally through the frame members 10 and 14 is a main shaft 18 having an end 20 adapted to receive a conventional dial plate calibrated in minutes of time.

A fiat spiral main spring 22 is secured at its one end 24 to the shaft and is secured at its opposite end on a pin 26 fixed to the frame member 10. The spring 22 is closely adjacent the inner side of the frame member 10 and is similar to a conventional clock spring. The shaft 18 is provided with an axially stationary shoulder 28 adjacent to which an escapement wheel 30 is rotatably mounted about the axis of the shaft 18. This escapement wheel 30 is provided with conventional escapement cam notches 32 in its periphery.

On the opposite side of the escapement wheel 30 from the shoulder '28 is a clutch plate 34 which engages the escapement wheel 38. This clutch plate 34 is interposed between the escapement plate 30 and another fixed shoulder plate 36 carried by the shaft 18. The clutch plate 34 provides for frictional driving engagement between the shaft 18 and the escapement wheel 30.

An escapement spindle 38 is provided with trunnion ends 49 and 42 which are freely pivotally mounted in openings 9 and 13 in the frame members 10 and 14, respectively. Mounted on the escapement spindle is an escapement arm 44 having spaced teeth 46 and 48 engageable with the escapement teeth 32 of the escapement wheel 30. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings the escapement tooth 46 is engaged with the teeth 32 while the escapement tooth 48 barely clears these teeth so that the teeth 46 and 48 may alternately be engaged and cammed outwardly of the teeth 32 in the conventional manner of escapement operation.

The escapement arm 44 is provided with an elongated arcuate slot 50 which is disposed around the shaft 18 and the arcuate geometry of which is concentric with the spindle 38. The arm 44 at its extending end is provided with an actuating nib 52 and this nib 52 is disposed in a cylindrical socket 54 internally of a diaphragm holder 56.

Secured to the diaphragm holder 56 are diaphragms 5S and 66 adjacent to opposed chambers 62 and 64 in a housing 66 which is fixed to the frame plate 10 by means of screws 68. A passage 7b in the housing 66 communicates with both the chambers 62 and 64 and this pas- J sage 70 is provided with a flow restricting orifice member 72 which is variable by an adjustable needle valve 74 which may be adjusted externally by means of a screwdriver slot 7 6.

The housing 66 is made of two parts '78 and 88 which are assembled around diaphragm holding tubes and 84 which form side walls for the chambers 62 and 64, respectively. Clamp rings 86 and 88 hold the peripheries of the diaphragm 58 and as to the diaphragm holding tubes 82 and 84 thereby providing opposed chambers in and 64 which communicate with opposite ends of the passage 78.

A plug 911 communicates with the passage 78 so that the chambers 62 and 64 as well as the passage 76 may be charged with hydraulic fluid. It will be seen that as the nib 52 swings backward and forward relative to the chambers 62 and 64 that the diaphragms deflect and force fluid alternately to pass from one chamber to the other through the orifice 72.

Fixed on the shaft 18 is a cam plate 92 having angularly inclined cam portions 94 and 96. These cam portions 94 and 96 are inclined to the plane of the plate which is at right angles to the axis of the shaft 18.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings the cam plate 92 is a substantially circular plate and the inclined cam portion 94 is disposed a shorter distance from the axis of the shaft 18 than the cam portion 96. The different radii of the cam portions 94 and 96 coincide with the radii of fingers 98 and 188 on a cam member 102. The

cam fingers 98 and 180 extend upwardly through slots 184 and 106, respectively, in the frame plate 14. These slots 184 and 1516 are arcuate about the axis of the shaft 18 which is coaxial with a hub 188 of the cam member 102. Opposite ends of the slots provide spaced stops for the fingers 98 and 108 to limit pivotal movement of the cam member 162 about the axis of the shaft 18.

The cam fingers 98 and 198 are disposed to engage the inclined cam portions 94 and 96 of the cam plate 92, respectively, and operate relative thereto as will be hereinafter described in detail.

In the hub 108 of the cam member 102 is a pilot shaft socket 110 which receives a pilot shaft or activated member 112 which is loaded toward the cam member 182 by means of a spring 114. it will be understood that any equivalent to the spring 114 may be utilized to load the pilot shaft 112 toward the cam member 102.

It will be seen from the disclosure of FIG. 4 that the slots 104 and 1126 are sufficient in length to permit pivotal movement of the fingers 98 and 180 a substantial distance which may equal the extent of the inclined portions 116 and 118 of the cam fingers 98 and 1118, respectively.

It will be seen that the shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in an opening 11 in the frame member 18 and the lower end of the shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in an opening 15 in the frame plate 14. The slots 104 and 106 are provided with arcuate configuration concentric with the axis of the shaft 18, however, the slot 106 is disposed at a longer radius from the axis of the shaft 18 than is the slot 104.

The operation of the timing device of the present invention is substantially as follows.

The pilot shaft 112 is disposed to operate a pilot valve of a main fluid valve mechanism or this shaft 112 may be disposed to actuate a switch as desired. The spring 114 or equivalent device tends to move the shaft 112 toward the cam member 102 either to open or close a valve, open or close a switch or actuate some other device as desired after an elapsed time during which the escapement device of the present invention operates.

To initiate operation of the timing device of the invention the shaft 18 is rotated any predetermined portion of 360 degrees about its axis in the direction of the arrows A in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. A conventional dial calibrated in minutes may be connected to the end 20 of the shaft 18 for convenience in setting the 4 shaft a given number of degrees about its axis of rotation and also for handling and manipulating the shaft during the setting thereof.

When the shaft 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG. 3 the spring 22 is wound so that energy is stored therein. When the shaft 18 is released the clutch 34 in its frictional engagement with the escapement wheel 38 imparts force thereto which successively cams the teeth 46 and 48 of the arm 44 into and out of engagement with the teeth 32. This causes back and forth movement of the diaphragms 58 and 60 relative to the chambers 62 and 64 causing fluid alternately to pass from one chamber to another through the orifice 72. The cycle rate is controlled by adjustment of the needle valve 74 as hereinbefore described.

As th escapernent teeth 46 and 4?; permit the escapement wheel to rotate, the spring 22 is permitted to unwind and rotate the shaft 18 in unison with the escapernent wheel 38.

It will be noted that when initial rotation of the shaft 18 is caused by manual force thereon that the clutch 34 slips and the shaft 18 rotates relative to the escapement wheels 30. However, the clutch 34 is capable of handling the unwinding force of the spring 22 and thus the escapement wheel 3 and the shaft 18 are coupled during unwinding operation of the spring 22.

it will be noted that when the shaft is rotated to wind the spring 22 it also moves the cam plate 92 in the direction of the arrows A in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. This causes the cam portions 4 and 26 to act on the inclined portions 116 and 118 of the cam fingers 98 and 188, respectively, thereby forcing the cam member 102 axially and moving the pilot shaft 112 against compression of the spring 114. Axial movement of the cam member 1112 is completed when the ends of the cam fingers 28 and 188 are overrun by the surface 93 of the cam plate 92. Thus, the fingers 28 and 18-13 are forced to the plane of said surface 93 of the cam plate 92 whereupon it may be rotated substantially 360 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Due to the different radii at which the fingers 98 and 188 are disposed the cam portion 96 of the cam plate 182 misses the upper end of the finger 98 as the cam plate 92 is rotated. Thus, no interference occurs between the cam finger 188 and the cam portion 94 of the cam plate 92.

When the shaft 18 has been rotated to wind the spring 22 and when the shaft is released the spring tends to rotate the shaft 18 and the cam plate 92 in the direction of the arrow B as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. At this time friction between the surface 93 of the cam plate 92 and the upper ends of the fingers 28 and 189 forces the cam member 182 into the dash line position C thus moving the fingers 98 and 188 to opposite stop ends, of the slots 104 and 1%, from that occupied when these fingers are in the solid line positions as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

The cam member 1G2 remains in the dash line position C until the cam plate 92 rotates in the direction of the arrow B a sufficient distance to permit the inclined cam portions 116 and 18 to slide on the respective inclined cam portions 94 and 96 of the cam plate 92 in a direction axially of the shaft 18. When this occurs force of the spring 114 causes the fingers 98 and 108 to snap from the dash line position C to the solid line position as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings whereby the spring 14 quickly moves the fingers 98 and 101 axially and upwardly into the position as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Thus, the pilot shaft 112 is fully actuated throughout a cycle of operation to control a pilot valve or switch as desired.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; an escapement mechanism therein; a main shaft on said escapement mechanism manually rotatable in one direction; means of said escapement mechanism tending to move said shaft in the opposite direction; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said first cam means inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft and spaced therefrom; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions, said frame having spaced stops; said second cam means having stop engaging portions disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said stops and along the inclined portions of said first cam means.

2. In a timing device the combination of: a. frame; an escapement mechanism therein; a main shaft on said escapement mechanism manually rotatable in one direction; means of said escapement mechanism tending to move said shaft in the opposite direction; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said first cam means inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft and spaced therefrom; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions, said frame having spaced stops; said second cam means having stop engaging portions disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said stops and along the inclined portions of said first cam means, said plurality of cam portions disposed at different radii from the axis of said main shaft, said plurality of cam fingers disposed at dif. ferent radii from the axis of said shaft and conforming with the different radii of said cam portions whereby, said first cam means may be rotated almost 360 degrees about the axis of said main shaft while causing a single actuation of said second cam means by said first cam means.

3. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; an escapement mechanism therein; a main shaft of said escapement mechanism manually rotatable in one direction; means of said escapement mechanism tending to move said shaft in the opposite direction; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a cam portion on said first cam means and inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said main shaft and spaced therefrom; a second cam means having an inclined cam engaging said cam portion, said frame having spaced stops; said second cam means having a stop engaging portion disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said spaced stops and along the inclined portions of said first cam means.

4. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; a main shaft rotatably mounted therein; a fiat spiral spring interconnecting said shaft and said frame; an escapement wheel concentrically rotatable about said shaft and having angular escapement teeth in its periphery; a friction clutch coupling said escapement wheel to said shaft; an escapement arm pivoted on said frame and having a pair of teeth spaced relative to the pivotal axis of said arm and engageable with said first mentioned teeth; a pair of opposed Walls movably coupled to said arm; a housing having a pair of opposed chambers communicating with said opposed walls; a passage means in said housing intercommunicating with said opposed chambers; fluid in said chambers adjacent said walls and in said passage means; and means to control the rate of flow through said passage.

5. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; a main shaft rotatably mounted therein; a flat spiral spring interconnecting said shaft and said frame; an escapement wheel concentrically rotatable about said shaft and having angular cam teeth in its periphery; a friction clutch coupling said escapement Wheel to said shaft; an escapement arm pivoted on said frame and having a pair of escapement teeth spaced relative to the pivotal axis of said arm and engageable with said first mentioned teeth; a pair of opposed walls movably coupled to said arm; a housing having a pair of opposed chambers communicating with said opposed walls; a passage means in said housing intercommunicating with said opposed chambers; fluid in said chambers adjacent said walls and in said passage means; and means to control the rate of flow through said passage, said last mentioned means comprising an orifice and a needle valve.

6. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; a main shaft rotatably mounted therein; a flat spiral spring interconnecting said shaft and said frame; an escapement wheel concentrically rotatable about said shaft and having angular cam teeth in its periphery; a friction clutch coupling said escapement wheel to said shaft; an escapement arm pivoted on said frame and having a pair of teeth spaced relative to the pivotal axis of said arm and engageable with said first mentioned escapement teeth; a pair of opposed diaphragms movably coupled to said arm; a housing having a pair of opposed chambers communicating with said opposed diaphragms; a passage means in said housing intercommunicating with said opposed chambers; fiuid in said chambers adjacent said Walls and in said passage means; and means to control the rate of flow through said passage.

7. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; a main shaft rotatably mounted therein; a fiat spiral spring interconnecting said shaft and said frame; an escapement Wheel concentrically rotatable about said shaft and having angular teeth in its periphery; a friction clutch coupling said escapement Wheel to said shaft; an escapement arm pivoted on said frame and having a pair of escapement teeth spaced relative to the pivotal axis of said arm and engageable with said first mentioned escapement teeth; a pair of opposed walls movably coupled to said arm; a housing having a pair of opposed chambers communicating with said opposed walls; a passage means in said housing intercommunicating with said opposed chambers, and mean to control the rate of flow through said passage; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said first cam means and inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions; spaced stops on said frame; said second cam means having stop engaging portions disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said stops on said frame and to move along the inclined portions of said first cam means; and third means tending to hold said cam means in operative engagement with said first cam means.

8. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; a main 'shaft rotatably mounted therein; a flat spiral spring interconnecting said shaft and said frame; an escapement wheel concentrically rotatable about said shaft and having angular cam teeth in its periphery; a friction clutch coupling said escapement wheel to said shaft; an escapement arm pivoted on said frame and having a pair of escapement teeth spaced relative to the pivotal axis of said arm and engageable wit-h said first mentioned escapement teeth; a pair of opposed walls movably coupled to said arm; a housing having a pair of opposed chambers communicating with said opposed Walls; a passage means in said housing intercommunicating with said opposed chambers; and means to control the rate of flow through said passage; 8. first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said first cam means and inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions; spaced stops on said frame; said second cam means having stop engaging portions disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said stops on said frame and to move along the inclined portions of said first cam means; and third means tending to hold said cam mean in operative engagement with said first cam means, said plurality of cam portions disposed at different radii from the axis of said main shaft, said plurality of cam fingers disposed at different radii from the axis of said shaft and conforming with the different radii of said cam portions whereby, said first cam means may be rotated almost 360 degrees about the axis of said main shaft while causing a single actuation of said second cam means by said first cam means.

9. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; an escapement mechanism therein; a main shaft for said escapement mechanism manually rotatable in one direction; means of said escapement mechanism tending to rotate said shaft in the opposite direction; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said cam means and inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions, said frame having arcuate slots therein; opposite ends of said arcuate slots forming spaced stops, said cam fingers extending through said slots and being dimensioned to move a limited distance between said stops at opposite ends of said slots, said cam fingers being disposed concurrently to move along the inclined portions of said first cam means; and third means tending to hold said second cam means in operative engagement with said first cam means.

10. In a timing device the combination of: a frame; an escapement mechanism therein; a main shaft for said escapement mechanism manually rotatable in one direction; means of said escapement mechanism tending to move said shaft in the opposite direction; a first cam means fixed to said main shaft; a plurality of cam portions on said first cam means inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of said shaft; a second cam means having a plurality of inclined cam fingers engaging said cam portions, said frame having spaced stops, said second cam means having stop engaging portions disposed to move pivotally a limited distance between said stops and along the inclined portions of said first cam means; and third means tending to hold said second cam means in operative engagement with said first cam means.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS 1,457,328 Van Berkel June 5, 1923 1,994,537 Scoville Mar. 19, 1935 2,283,682 Marshall May 19, 1942 2,547,573 Gannone Apr. 3, 1951 2,705,048 Wiley Mar. 29, 1955 2,748,759 Schilfer June 5, 1956 2,753,406 Pigman July 3, 1956 2,758,181 Crouch Aug. 7, 1956 2,810,435 Demi et a1. Oct. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,946 France Dec. 27, 1903 220,011 Australia Feb. 10, 1959 

